China has approved emergency use of Sinovac Biotech's COVID-19 vaccine for those in 3 to 17 age group its chairman Yin Weidong told state TV late on Friday. When Sinovac's vaccine will be offered to younger groups depends on health authorities formulating China's inoculation strategies, Yin further said
Yin said minors have lower priority for vaccination compared with the elderly, who face higher risk of severe symptoms after infection.
Preliminary results from Phase I and II clinical trials showed the vaccine could trigger immune response in three to 17 year-old participants, and most adverse reactions were mild.
China's mass vaccination drive, which administered 723.5 million doses of vaccines as of June 3, is currently only open to those aged 18 and above.